Fire-escape.



No. 708,777. Patented Sept. 9, |902.

Y A. 4IMGLIUTCHEDN 'FIRE ESCAPE.

plica'tion filed Qct, 9. 1901 I (No Model.)

lgiilll! A ,4/ i @t @Inventum 10.708,777. Patented/sepas. |902.

. A. Mccucneou. y

FIRE ESCAPE.

Application led Oct. 9, 190'1.\

lNo Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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' ,o @ZZ whom it may concern:

f UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

ALEXANDER MGCUTCHEON, OF EMPORIA, KANSAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,777, dated September 9, 1902.

` A Application filed October 9, 1901. Serial No. 78,124. (No model.)

Beit known that I, ALEXANDER MCCUT- CHEON, a citizen of Ythe'United States, residing at Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the in-V vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention belongs to the type of ap-y paratus for saving life from fire which is portable and embodies a car, block and tackle, and a crane adapted to be readily and securely fastened to a window-opening of a burning building, so as to afford a safe retreat in the eventof all other avenues of escape being closed.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details Vof construction of the means for edecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of theinvention are susceptible of modication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which` Figure 1 is a perspective View. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing `the Window-frame in transverse section. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the frame extended. Fig. 4is a similar View showing the frame folded. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clamp. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the clamp.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The contrivance embodies, Y essentially, three parts-a crane, acar or cage, and a block and tackle.

The crane comprises a post 1, jib 2, and brace 3, the parts being constructed to admit of the crane folding intoasmall space. The

post 1 is pointed at its lower end and is' prof vided at its upper end with a U-shaped head 4, adapted to embrace the lower rail of a win-V dow-sash 5 when the crane is in operative position. 'lhe jib terminates in a hook 6 and is hinged at 7 to a T-iitting 8, applied to the upper portion of the post, and has an approximately Y-shaped tting 9 near its outer `end to receive the upper end of the brace 3, which is connected therewith by a slip-joint, a clamp-screw 10 holding the parts together when the upper end of the brace 3 is slipped into the branch of the tting 9. The brace 3 is hinged or pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 1l, to a Y-itting 12, applied to the lower portion of the post, 1. By having the jib 2 and brace 3 articulate with reference to the vpost 1 they are enabled to fold against the said post when it is required to reduce 'the crane to a compact forni, so as to occupy the smallest amount of space possible when not .in position for service. In practice it is preferred to provide a pair of cranes for each window-opening, one being located at each side of the opening and the jibs being outwardly converged to bring their hooked ends 6 together to receive the upper block 13 of the block and tackle suspended therefrom. The pointed end of the post 1 isforced into the window-sill, or a depression may be provided for its reception, the lower rail of the sash entering the space between the arms of the U- shaped head 4. The crane when in operative position is made more secure by means of an iron14, having ahook 15 at one end and having its opposite end bent, as shown at 16, and apertured to'receive one end of a chain 17, by means`of which the bent end 16 is connected with the fittingS or upper portion of the crane. 'A clamp-iron 18 'is provided with a loop 19, through which the bent end 16 ofthe iron 14 passes and which is threaded to receive a set-screw 20, having threaded connection With Athe bent end 16 and mounted in the outer end of the loop 19 and having its inner end swiveled in the iron 18. The iron 14 is a strap or bar and, together with the iron 18 and adj unctive parts, constitutes a clamp for gripping opposite edges of the facing 21, surrounding the window-casement on the inner side. The hook 15 is caused to bite into an edge of the facing 21, and the iron 18 is clamped against l persons in danger and cut oif from other ways the opposite edge by turning up the set-screw 20, and after the clamp has been securely fastened the chain 17 is connected to the crane if not already attached thereto.

The car or cage 22 consists of a skeleton frame, preferably of metal and having its opposite ends and outer side closed by a Wirenetting or other material, preferably of a character to resist Haines. The side adjacent the building is open to admit ot' a person having ready access to the cage, and by having the ends and outer side closed the chances for accident of an occupant by falling out are minimized This car or cage is suspended from the crane by means of block and tackle, the lower block 23 being attached to the car and the rope or cord 2l passing around the pulleys of the blocks 13 and :23 in the usual manner and extending to the ground to admit of operation of the car therefrom.

The provision of a pair of cranes and the outward convergence of the jibs prevents a direct outward pull upon the cranes. Hence the latter are best calculated to withstand the strain ordinarily imposed thereon When the appliance is in active operation. The connection of the cranes with the facing of the window-easement materially assists in the safety of the device and prevents slipping of the parts. When the car is elevated, a person at the window fitted with the cranes can readily enter the car, and the latter in its descent passing by other windows in vertical line affords an avenue of escape for any person at anyone of the said windows. The

car can be quickly run up and down by means of the rope 24, so as to rescue any number of oi escape.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a fire-escape and in combination with a window and hoisting mechanism, a post stepped upon the window-sill and having a U-shaped head to receive the lower rail of a sash, and a jib and a brace connected to each other and to the post, substantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape and in combination with a window and hoisting mechanism, a post stepped upon the windoW-si1l,a U-shaped head at the upper end ot the post to embrace the sides of the lower rail of a sash, a T-itting near the upper end and a Y-tting near the lower end of the post, a jib pivoted to the T- fitting, a Y-tting at the outer end of the jib, and a brace pivoted to the Y-ttting of the post and adapted to make detachable connection with the Y-itting at the outer end of the jib, substantially as specified.

In a fire-escape, the combination with a Window, a crane, an iron having a loop, a second iron having a hooi: at one end and having its opposite end bent to pass through the said loop, a screw coperating with the loop and bent ends of the irons to clamp a portion of the window-easement, and a connection between the crane and the bent end of the iron, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEON.

Witnesses:

J oHN W. RAUSCHER, CEAS. B. GRAVES. 

